Confidentiality
We promise that all information that you provide to us – verbally or in writing – will be kept confidential unless dictated by law.
ABOUT UPLIFT FAMILY PSYCHIATRY
Care begins with
understanding.
Compassionate, evidence-informed mental health care for children, teens, and adults — from the comfort and privacy of home.
WHAT GUIDES OUR CARE
Our Values
Collaboration
Working effectively with the patient to achieve shared goals, valuing the input and expertise of the patient (as expert of their own health).
Compassion
Compassion manifests itself in seeing and understanding the suffering of the other people without any judgment.
Honesty
Being truthful, sincere, and transparent in all aspects of life, valuing integrity and trust in personal and professional relationships.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND UPLIFT
Our Team
Joel David Ortega
Founder · Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
A board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and the founder of Uplift Family Psychiatry. He have worked in the mental health field since 2008, with experience caring for individuals across a variety of psychiatric and behavioral health settings. He became a psychiatric registered nurse in 2011 and later completed my advanced psychiatric training at Wilkes University to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Over the years, his experience has taught him that effective mental health care is about much more than treating a list of symptoms. He believes in taking the time to understand each person, their experiences, their challenges, and what they hope to achieve through treatment.
His approach combines evidence-based psychiatric care with thoughtful medication management, supportive psychotherapy, lifestyle considerations, and a strong emphasis on developing a long-term therapeutic relationship with patients. Together, he creates an individualized treatment plan designed not only to improve symptoms, but also to help patients function better, feel more like themselves, and improve their overall quality of life.
Most importantly, he wants his patients to feel heard, respected, and comfortable discussing their mental health without judgment.
Hablo Español. ¡Será un placer atenderte!
Maria
Co-Owner & Practice Manager
As Co-Owner and Practice Manager of Uplift Family Psychiatry, Maria plays an essential role in the day-to-day operations and continued growth of the practice. She brings a unique combination of compassion, organization, and leadership to everything she does.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a Master’s degree in School Counseling, Maria combines a strong analytical background with an understanding of people and mental health. She oversees many of the operations behind Uplift Family Psychiatry, including finances, billing, payroll, human resources, marketing, insurance credentialing, and scheduling.
Beyond the administrative side of the practice, Maria is deeply committed to the experience of every patient who chooses Uplift. She works to ensure that our practice remains organized, welcoming, and responsive while maintaining the personal connection that has been an important part of Uplift from the beginning.
As Uplift continues to grow and welcome new therapists and psychiatric providers, Maria helps ensure that we never lose sight of what matters most: providing compassionate, personalized mental health care and treating every patient with respect.
Michelle
Care Coordinator/Assistant
Michelle is often one of the first friendly voices patients hear when they reach out to Uplift Family Psychiatry. As our Care Coordinator/Assistant, she helps patients navigate the process of connecting with our practice, from answering questions and coordinating appointments to assisting with scheduling and ongoing communication.
Michelle brings warmth, patience, and a genuine desire to help others to every interaction. She understands that reaching out for mental health care can sometimes feel overwhelming, and she works to make the process as comfortable, welcoming, and straightforward as possible.
As Uplift Family Psychiatry continues to grow, Michelle helps ensure that our patients stay connected with their care team and receive the personal attention and support that are central to our practice.
Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple effect with no logical end.”
— Scott Adams
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